John Adams and the "Fourth" of July

John Adams' famous letter of July 3, 1776, in which he wrote to his wife Abigail what his thoughts were about celebrating the Fourth of July is found on various web sites but is usually incorrectly quoted. Following is the exact text from his letter with his original spellings:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not." (The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, Harvard University Press, 1975, 142).

Why does he speak of the "Second Day of July 1776"? Well, the important vote on independence passed on July 2, 1776, after which there was a Sunday break and then debate was begun on the Declaration, which was adopted on July 4, 1776. Clearly, the more important issue was the vote on independence, which Adams acknowledged in his letters at the time, and in his subsequent writings. However, the Declaration being dated July 4, 1776, very early American history began celebrating Independence Day on July 4th, and great credit was generally given to Jefferson as author of the Declaration, with less credit given to Adams, who was the true point man in Congress for the independence movement.